When my mom told me the news I respectfully dismissed it.Knowing my mom loves to gossip and spread rumors, I asked her to â€œcall me back.â€Could not believe it, wouldnâ€™t!Who is she to call me with all of this while Iâ€™m driving?â€œAre you sure mom, turn toCNN and call me back â€When I turned to every stationand they played his music insecessionIwas moved. I was hurt, but I had to get over myself quickly because as though I am one fan, I donâ€™t have the right to be upset.

The bottom line is just as Eddie Levert said, â€œMichael gave the business all of him, in return the business turned their back on him because they look for sensationalism.â€

I drove by UCLA Medical Center shortly after 7 p.m on that fateful day and saw over 15 satellite trucks and news vans. Then it occurred to me, this is real. I drove around aimlessly.Everyone for the first time understood that what just happen was bigger than themselves, so they were respectful. Unlike any other rally, there were no points to be made.I could not think of any other time there were that many people and if you would have closed your eyes you would not have known.What we all wanted for Michael and the family was a respectful tribute to his journey to the afterlife.

We were humbled. We all exchange blank stares with empty expressions. As fans, we understood our place.

It will forever perplex me the magnitude to which this legend has lived his life. People will give their opinions about how his music has affected them personally. They will talk of how his music has been â€œthe soundtrack to their lives.â€Many of us believe that if Michael did perhaps write that certain song that we ourselves knew him.

All respected him, most adored him and then there will be those that will throw their stones. They will belittle, and ridicule. They will invite others to do so. How dare they? Who is anyone to throw stones for they were not asked to give up their childhood?How convenient it is to laugh at one who was in pain when you have the benefit of not knowing what he knows, the simple human decency of not forfeiting your childhood. Not obligated to tour and record, to be honest, at 12, keeping my room clean was hard enough.

All I ask is for those to put things in its proper priority

What we do know is that beyond the 3g network of the internet, before music videos, and definitely before this so called â€œliberal waveâ€ There was Michael.Michael Jackson was the quintessential figure to a key Obama quote.

â€œWhat brings us together is greater than what divides us.â€

Michael Jackson so happen to have been the best at what he did and that was through the power of music. Actors play characters, athletes play their positions but music will forever have a role in the human spirit.His music made you feel invincible; there was always certain vulnerability in some of his messages. Michael expressed joy and he made you dance with energy and enthusiasm. Actors and athletes donâ€™t have that to offer, that is beyond their medium. Throw on your favorite Michael Jackson album and tell me how it allows you to feel.

I remember watching overseas footage of his concerts and ambulances had to be called, because there were so many fans who fainted.I thought to myself that somewhere else in this world people could love someone like me.Â